William h



Patented May 8, 1883.

(No Model.)

W. H. H. KNGHT.

LEAD 0R CRAYNHOLDBR.

N4 Pzrzns. mounwmpw. wamingfm u. c

NrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. H. KNIGHT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS ABRAHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

LEADoR cRAYoNHoLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,139, dated May 8, 1883.

Application filed February 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. H. KNIGHT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lead or Crayon Holders, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of a pencil-case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar sectional View of the lower end 0r tip enlarged. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line y y. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lower end of the plunger. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the springs for clamping the lead or crayon, and also for retructing the plunger.-

My invention relates to that class of pencil or crayon holders wherein hollow plungers, in combination with gripping-springs, operate t0 retain or release the lead or crayon within and from a pencil case or sheath.

The invention `relates more particularly to the peculiar form of springs employed to effect the above-named object, said springs operating not only to hold a lead or crayon within the sheath, but also to return the plunger to its normal position after suid plunger has been pressed downward for the purpose of releasing the lead or crayon from the pressure of said springs. Many devices have been made to produce the above-named result, but each and all have heretofore failed to accomplish the end sought for without the employment of a second or auxiliary spring, the use of which renders the pencil-holder complicated and liable to get out of order.

To provide a simple, cheap, and durable device for the purpose indicated has been the object of this invention; and to this end it consists in a pencil-case provided with a hollow plunger operated from the top or upper end, and also provided with a spring fulfilling the twofold function ot' retaining the lead within the sheath and of returning the plunger to its normal position when released from downward pressure, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters denote like parts in each figure, A represen ts the case or sheath, provided at its lower end withv a tip or nozzle, B, perforated at b to admit a lead or crayon.

C represents a plunger provided with a hollow center, c. the case A by a small stud or pin, c', which passes through the'shell of the sheath A and enters a small-recess, c?, in the plunger. `Said stud or pin c' and recess c2 limit the longitudinal movement of the plunger C. I preferably make the lower end, c3, of theplunger somewhat smaller iu diameter than the remaining portion thereof, in order that it may pass downward between the springs D without binding said springs; and I also preferably provide the extreme lower end of said plunger with recesses e4, for purposes hereinafter indicated.

l) represents gripping and retracting springs, the upper ends of which springs are attached to the sheath A, ou the inner side thereof, by rivets d, from which point they extend toward the tip or noz'zle, and are for a short distance comparatively straight, as shown in Fig. 5, between the points d and d2. point they bow7 or curveinwardlyand upwardly to a point, d3, thence downwardly straight, as shown, between the points d3 and d* of same ligure, and at the latter point they are provided with grippingjaws d5.

The tip or nozzle B is provided with an interior chamber,4 B', into which and within which said gripping-jaws d5 extend and-operate, by which means the whole of the lead or crayon can be completely used.

The operation of my device is as follows: When it is desired tointroduce a lead or crayon within the sheath, pressure is applied to the upper end of the plunger, the lower end of which, bearing upon the upward part ot' the spring D, operates to press said part downward, and so throw the gripping-jaws d5 open. On removing thepressure from the plunger the springs operate to return said plunger to its normal position, and also to tightly,y grasp the lead or crayon within the jaws di. When itis desired to release the pencil from the grippingjaws the operation is repeated, as will be readily understood.

It will be seen from the above description The plunger C is held withinf From the latter A that the peculiar form of spring I employ not attached to each other either or both may be removed or replaced at will without disturbing` the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isi l. In a lead or crayon holder, the spring D, having the inwardly and upwardly curved part between the points d2 Z3 and straight downwardly-projecting part between the points d3 d4, having gripping-jaws d5, substantially as described.

2. 'In a lea or crayon holder, the combination of the gr'pping and retracting springs D,

.constructed as described,witl1 the hollow plungerG, and\sheath A, substantially as described. I

3.. In a lead or crayon holder, the combination ofthe sheath A, provided with a guide pin or stud, c, with the plunger C, having recess 02 to receive the guide-pin c', recesses c4 c, springs D, constructed as described, and tip B, substantially as described.

WILLIAM H. H. KNIGHT. 

